As an official media partner of the Bath Half Marathon, The Business Exchange is bringing you a series of articles focusing on some of the corporate teams entering and the charities they’re running for.
Each year thousands of people take to the streets to run the 13.1 miles of a two-lap course of the historic city raising significant sums of money for local causes.
Here we profile Simon Gould, managing director at BMT, one of the city’s largest employers.
Name: Simon Gould
Age: 46
Company / brief description: BMT is a leading international design, engineering, science and risk management consultancy with a reputation for engineering excellence. We employ over 500 people in Bath and have been based in the city for 30 years.
Charity / brief description: Bath Rugby Foundation is the charitable arm of Bath Rugby Club set up to empower young people to succeed. It uses the values of rugby to inspire young people to create a better future for themselves with a focus on key areas of need in our community, specifically, improving health, education, employability and inclusion.
Tell us about your team: Runners from BMT have taken part in the Bath Half for many years. Whether it’s trying to beat your colleague or completing your first ‘half’, we provide each other with the encouragement and motivation to run. For the last two years we have proudly supported the Bath Rugby Foundation.
Why did you decide to enter a corporate team into the Bath Half? Being based in Bath for 30 years, taking part in the Bath Half is now part of our DNA.
What is your history of running? Is this your first Bath Half Marathon? I ran my first Bath Half in 1997 which gave me the running bug and have run regularly since then. I run mainly to keep fit and complete at least one event each year to make sure I keep trying to improve. I set a PB (1h25m) when I turned 40 to prove to myself I was as fit as I was in my twenties!
How is your training going? I don’t expect to set a PB this year, but I try to run four times a week and hope to get round in a respectable time.
What will be the hardest part of the race for you? Each year I run the Bath Half I forget the last stretch along Pulteney Road is up hill! It’s a big relief to turn left into Great Pulteney Street.
Which part are you looking forward to the most? The finishing straight along the beautiful Great Pulteney Street hearing crowds cheer you home is amazing.
Why have you chosen to run for the Bath Rugby Foundation? The work the Bath Rugby Foundation does to support young people in our community makes a big difference. The help they offer to runners on the day with a dedicated indoor hub, massage, hot showers and food also makes a big difference!
How can people donate to your team? Go to the website bathrugbyfoundation.com, read about what they do to make a difference to young people’s lives and click ‘donate today’.
To find out more about the Bath Half Marathon and the Bath Half Corporate Challenge visit: www.bathhalf.co.uk @bathhalf
Pictured above: BMT’s Simon Gould and below a photo of last year’s BMT Bath Half team.
